How to choose the right eCommerce platform for you

It can be a bit of a minefield when trying to choose an eCommerce platform, so we've made an easy guide.
Iconography eCommerce

Choosing a new eCommerce platform can be a bit of a daunting task, especially if you’ve got limited knowledge of the industry.

So we are going to help break it down for you, into the essential aspects you need to consider before you migrate to a new platform or purchase a brand new website.

Always do your research

Before parting with your cash, make sure you research as much as possible. Don’t just follow the trends of others, what platform your competitor uses or that is heavily advertised, may not always work for your business. Always ask questions, especially, how can you benefit from all the features that the platform can offer.

Scalability and adding new features

A new website is a large investment and you don’t want to have to think about replatforming for a few years. Do you have the ability to add new features to the website? What if you decide to open a new retail store, would you have to then pay for a separate third-party EPoS system and an integration? What if your eCommerce platform cannot integrate with your till system, and you need to then invest into a new website? Thinking about these questions now could potentially save you a lot of money in the future.

Be clear on the complete price

As previously mentioned, websites are an investment and sometimes costly, so knowing what you are paying for is important. Always check what the initial outlay will be, and will there be additional monthly costs such as hosting and maintenance. Always check the small print, you don’t want to sign a contract and then find hidden charges.

Can you and the team use the system

The new platform may look nice and shiny, but can you and your team actually use it? Always ask to see a demo site, and make sure the members of staff who will be using the software most frequently have a trial run. No one wants to spend money on something that they can’t actually use.

Check what integrations are supported

Most eCommerce website will need to be integrated with third-party solutions and software, these can range from accounting software to payment gateways. Make sure you compile a list of all software that you will need to have integrated with your website and request that your eCommerce agency can integrate these with your new platform. Here is a selection of third-party integrations that we can apply to Iconography eCommerce. If you can’t see the integration you require, just ask the team.

Platform upgrades

Many eCommerce platforms will release upgrades, these can be minor such as 1.7.1.1 to 1.7.1.2, or they can be larger version upgrades, for example, v.1 to v.2. These upgrades can come with a hefty price tag, and it’s always worthwhile checking beforehand. Iconography eCommerce always has continual updates, but these tend to be behind the scenes and don’t affect the day to day running of your website. Larger updates can sometimes be actioned within maintenance hours. We develop our platform on the requests of our clients, ensuring it’s always what you want and need to run your eCommerce business effectively.

Search Engine Optimisation

SEO is how people find your website when searching on their web browser. You want to make sure your new eCommerce platform has plenty of SEO features, to help your site rank better than your competition. Iconography eCommerce with automatically generate product metadata based on the product data entered in the CMS, it also has the ability to be entered manually for products, categories and collections. If you need some extra help with SEO, get in touch with us today.

Mobile friendly

At the start of 2015, only 31% of all global traffic was from mobile devices, compared to over 50% towards the end of 2018. It’s no wonder that back in 2016 Google announced that they would be focusing on mobile-first indexing, so you want to ensure that your website is optimised for mobile devices. Always ask your eCommerce agency about responsive design, and if they test the site on multiple mobile devices.

Iconography eCommerce could be the perfect eCommerce platform for you and your business. If you would like more information check out our extensive list of features and benefits or why not give the team a call.